Sussex scorer Len Chandler (76) has retired after 20 years, in the senior post. He finally hangs up the computer and pen with the cheers of the crowd still ringing in his ears following the counties 2nd XI Championship success.Seen here being presented with a portrait of the County Ground, Hove from opening batsman Richard Montgomerie, Len boasts of continual membership of the club since 1960, and became a life member in 1972. He was asked to take over the scorers roll when the incumbant Geoffrey Saulez decided to move on.Len who spent much of his working life in the building industry, confessed to being only a very club standard player in his youth, but has really enjoyed his term with the county. “We have seen some good times, and some bad,” says Len, “But what a way to go out with the boys promotion and championship.”

Essex have made an official approach to Warwickshire for their unsettledvice captain David Hemp.The 30-year-old left-handed batsman, formerly an England A player, has turned down a new two-year contract at Edgabaston, saying that he wants a longer deal.Warwickshire have refused to make an improved offer and Hemp, who rejected a contract extension last year, is now free to move.Although Essex are the first county to show an interest in Hemp, there is a possibility he may return to Glamorgan, whom he left five years ago.

On a day dominated by the rain, the newspapers of Australasia concentrated on Adam Gilchrist’s fourth Test century, in the first Australia-New Zealand Test at the Gabba in Brisbane yesterday.The New Zealand Press Asssociation had a response from New Zealand captain Stephen Fleming to comments made by Gilchrist about New Zealand’s second day tactics with the wet ball.”Fleming responded to claims by vice-captain Gilchrist that New Zealand’s approach on the truncated second day of play was negative, after they had taken six wickets in the final session of the first day.”‘They had their tail up, the breakthroughs and the momentum and I was really surprised by their attitude from ball one,'” Gilchrist said.”‘They seemed intent on trying to slow the over rate and bowl a little bit with negative fields. It surprised me. It enabled us to settle in and take our time.'”Fleming said the comments were disappointing and that his tactics were determined by the conditions.”‘I think he (Gilchrist) can pull his head in a little bit because the conditions obviously dictated a lot of the plays that we had to make,'” Fleming said.”‘We didn’t have [Daniel] Vettori, we couldn’t change the ball because after an over, a new ball would be the same (wet).”‘It’s very easy when things are going your way to say those sort of things.'”The Sun Herald: “Australia’s amazing run of 23 Test matches without a draw has all-but been consigned to a watery grave after another dreary day took the first Test against New Zealand closer to stalemate.”Only 18.4 overs were possible before tea on the third day, and even the Gabba’s sieve-like surface can do nothing about the prospect of rain continuing through the weekend and into Monday.”Adam Gilchrist completed his fourth Test century before Steve Waugh declared at 9-486, but the opening clash of the summer seems destined to end in Australia’s first draw since the Colombo Test against Sri Lanka in September, 1999.”The Sunday Mail (Brisbane): “Since Gilchrist (118) made his Test debut two years ago, only Justin Langer and Steve Waugh have scored more runs. Another 17 yesterday would have taken him past both of them.”The figures confirm Australia has seven frontline batsmen and he is close to the best.”The Kiwi attack without workhorse Shayne O’Connor, whose knee injury has ruled him out, and spinner Daniel Vettori (unable to grip the wet ball), was as formidable as a three-legged Melbourne Cup runner.”Inspirational Chris Cairns did splendidly to take 5-146 off 37 overs and deserved every scrap that landed on his plate after rushing against the clock to be fit for the series.”

Railways notched up a narrow three-run win against Rajasthan in theirRanji Trophy one-day match at Udaipur on Friday.Put in to bat, Railways made 251 in their innings. With opener AmitPagnis making 45 off 51 balls and Tejinder Pal Singh top-scoring with63 off 72, the total looked to touch the 300-run mark. The middleorder, however, lost its way, and only a steady innings from Yere Goudenabled it to touch the 250-mark.Rajasthan lost Siddharth Joshi early, but opener Gagan Khoda made 69off 91 and Nikhil Doru hit 60 off 80. With the two at the crease, andeven after Khoda’s departure, Rajasthan looked set for a win. Fourbatsmen were run out, however, to leave Rajasthan bowled out for 248,three runs short of Railways target.

Cricket has a reputation for producing the unexpected but there are few saferpredictions than Muttiah Muralitharan grabbing a bagful of wickets on adusty Galle track. Thus, as Sri Lanka and Zimbabwe limber up for the finalTest of a hopelessly one-sided three-match series, Sri Lanka’s crown jewellooks set to reach 400 Test wickets in record time.Muralitharan, his ring finger still swollen and locked safely in aprotective plastic splint, needs just five more wickets to become theseventh bowler to join the exclusive 400 club.Astonishingly, if he does take the five, the Sri Lankan-born Tamil, now 29,will have reached the landmark in just 72 games, eight matches less and nineyears younger than the next quickest, New Zealand’s Richard Hadlee, whopassed 400 in his 80th game.He will also become the youngest to the landmark being two years youngerthan his contemporary counterpart, Aussie leg-spinner Shane Warne, whoreached the 400 mark against England at the Oval last summer but needed 20more Tests.The impending milestone dominates the build-up to the Test, with captainSanath Jayasuriya hoping he clinches it on home soil: “This is a historicalgame for Murali and we are all looking forward and waiting for him takinghis 400th wicket. The wicket looks good for batting but it should startspinning by the second or third day and may crack later because of theheat.”The affable off-spinner, famous for his piercing eyes and a partially bentlocked elbow that creates the illusion of his arm straightening at the pointof delivery, has not fully recovered from ligament damage caused by hisfinger being dislocated in the second Test, but there is no question of himnot playing, even if the injury will handicap him in the field.Unsurprisingly, Jayasuriya is prepared to swap a few fumbles for hisprodigiously turning off-breaks. “He is recovering fast from the injury andimproving day by day but we will still have to manage him carefully andmight have to hide him a little in the field,” he said.Despite having taken 51 wickets in seven matches at Galle, Muralitharan isbeing typically cautious: “I have not been thinking about it much really.Hopefully, though, I can get there in this game if I bowl well, but thenthere is no guarantee in cricket.” But, already, his eyes are fixed ongreater achievements: “I really want to take 500 Test wickets and, beingjust 29, I have plenty of time to do that.”The omens are not good for Zimbabwe with a confidant Sri Lankan team closingin on a clean sweep at a venue where they look as formidable as the sturdyDutch Fort that forms such a spectacular backdrop to the stadium.The hosts have won their last four games here and boast an attack wellsuited to the conditions. In contrast, the visitors lack self-belief and afrontline spinner on a pitch that is going to offer the pace bowlers noencouragement whatsoever.Stuart Carlisle, speaking before the final team practice, said: “We are looking for a much improved team performance but it’s going to be a real challenge on a pitch that looks like it will turn a lot. The mood is a little bit down after three months away but this is an important Test and the guys know they are playing for their places on the India tour.”Zimbabwe have already released opening batsman Hamilton Masakadza andwicket-keeper Tatendra Taibu for the Under-19 World Cup in New Zealand andwill be picking the final team from a 12-man squad. Medium pacer Gary Brentlooks likely to be left out.Sri Lanka are set to make one change with leg-spinner Upul Chandana cominginto the side in place of Nuwan Zoysa who could have played but is sufferingfor a groin niggle.Further experimentation has been ruled out. “We discussed making changes butwhat we wanted to get all the players in good form. People like RusselArnold, who has a big role to play in Sri Lankan cricket, need someconfidence. We are going to England and we will have a chance of playingsome youngsters in the early games,” said Jayasuriya.Sri Lanka:Sanath Jayasuriya (capt), Marvan Atapattu, Mahela Jayawardene, RusselArnold, Kumar Sangakkara, Hashan Tillakaratne, Thilan Samaraweera, UpulChandana, Muttiah Muralitharan, Chaminda Vaas, Nuwan Zoysa, CharithaFernando, Ruchira PereraZimbabwe:Stuart Carlisle (Capt), Heath Streak, Grant Flower, Andy Flower, DionEbrahim, Trevor Gripper, Craig Wishart, Gavin Rennie, Douglas Marillier,Gary Brent, Travis Friend, Henry Olonga

What shaped as a David and Goliath battle was transformed into the Shane and Sean show as two outstanding young players helped Tasmania slay Queensland by an innings and 50 runs in an amazing finish to the teams’ Pura Cup clash here in Hobart today.Where Tasmania has been a generous host in previous matches this summer, all-rounder Shane Watson turned inhospitable today, producing an electric display of pace bowling to reverse the tide of poor form that has washed over his side of late. With it arrived the incredible figures of 11/78 inside a day as the Tigers gained sweet revenge for a two-day defeat of their own in Brisbane last month.Sean Clingeleffer, a wicketkeeper-batsman of immense promise, meanwhile led a spectacular exhibition of catching with a performance that established a new record for his state.Suitably stunned into committing an uncharacteristic string of errors, the Bulls crashed to be dismissed for 130 in their first innings before folding for a dismal 101 as they followed on.”I’m very happy about that; it’s still a bit of a weird feeling at the moment,” commented Watson of his first-ever ten-wicket haul in a first-class match.”Eleven wickets is a big tally but everyone bowled really well; I had good support at the other end which really helped me out a lot.”The former Queenslander was only introduced into the attack shortly before lunch but his impact was almost immediate. In his second over, he found the outside edge of the bat of Stuart Law (2), therein claiming a wicket that delivered the near-ultimate in satisfaction.Law, who had been less than flattering in his assessment of both Watson and the nature of his defection before the corresponding fixture last summer, groped at a brisk leg cutter and feathered an outside edge to Clingeleffer.”It’s been a good rivalry between me and Stuart and I was really pumped to try and get his wicket to lift our team. He’s a very good player and it was definitely a key wicket,” added Watson.Just for good measure, the Queensland captain then succumbed exactly the same way as his team’s game began to fall apart again in the second innings. His wicket appeared to be the catalyst of Queensland’s slide in both innings.Six of the last seven first innings wickets fell Watson’s way – in the midst of a collapse that saw eight wickets crash for a mere 53 runs. Another five came in the second as he magnetically found outside and bottom edges as well as the gate between bat and pad.The strongly built 20-year-old enjoyed a meteoric rise to the top tier of Australian domestic cricket as a teenager last summer, performing with brilliance as Tasmania took advantage of Queensland’s reluctance to blood him into state ranks at such an early age.Clamour for his inclusion in an Australian senior team has been building steadily in Tasmania ever since. A favourable effort in an appearance for Australia ‘A’ earlier this month couldn’t have harmed his cause. And national selectors Trevor Hohns and David Boon must have been further moved by what they saw first-hand here at a sun-drenched Bellerive Oval today.His bowling, the velocity of which sometimes rivals that of the stiff breezes which blow across the nearby Derwent River, was exceptional.As far as impressive efforts from players on the fielding side were concerned, he was not alone.Fellow pacemen Damien Wright, Shane Jurgensen and David Saker also bowled with venom. Wright beat the bat on countless occasions; Jurgensen maintained his reputation for impeccable line on a pitch that offered the same variable bounce as it had done yesterday; and Saker, as Watson later suggested, has probably never bowled better in close to two years of cricket with Tasmania.And, where their bowlers opened up chances, Tasmania’s fielders emphatically capitalised upon them. Their catching was of a consistently high standard and in no-one was the trend better emphasised than Clingeleffer. A brilliant one-handed overhead mark as he seized a rocketing edge from the bat of Wade Seccombe (0) in the first innings was the highlight among the total of nine catches which helped him set a new mark for the most taken in a first-class match by a Tasmanian fieldsman.In the face of Tasmania’s multi-faceted assault, opener Jimmy Maher (20 and 41) bravely defied the odds both times for the Bulls. But he encountered precious little in the way of support.Tasmania unhappily tumbled into last spot on the competition table after it lost in Brisbane and a period of soul-searching has followed. All to the accompaniment of a general lack of respect for the team from various quarters.But Watson and Clingeleffer both confirmed that the spirit of enthusiasm and commitment displayed on the field today has been spreading at an infectious rate in the dressing room all week.Cricket can truly be a remarkable leveller at times.

The Selection Committee of the BCCSL has chosen the following 14 players for the Sri Lanka `A’ squad, from whom 11 players will be selected on the morning of the 3rd Unofficial Test Match versus the Kenya National Cricket Team, which is to be played at the Rangiri Dambulla International Cricket Stadium from the 14th of February to the 17th of February 2002. The Ministry of Youth Affairs & Sports has approved the squad.The selection of the team to play in the match will be done by the Selectors in consultation with the Coach and Captain.1. Upul Chandana (Captain)
2. Avishka Gunawardena
3. Upekha Fernando
4. Michael Vandort
5. T.M. Dilshan
6. Chamara Silva
7. Prasanna Jayawardena
8. M. Pushpakumara
9. Ruchira Perera
10. Pulasthi Guneratne
11. Rangana Herath
12. Gayan Wijekoon
13. Dulip Liyanage
14. Ian Daniel

Manager/Head Coach:Roshan Mahanama
Coach: Hemantha Devapriya
Physiotherapist: Lal Thamel

It took nine overs for South Africa to make the 44 runs, required to win the Durban test match by 10 wickets. 36 runs came of the 5 angry overs bowled by Sami, a senseless display of short-pitched bowling , the equivalent of banging one’s head against a wall.By contrast, England made Australia sweat it out for the 107 runs it needed, losing 5 wickets. It was an inspiring piece of cricket.England bowled with passion, pride and commitment, qualities of heart missing in Pakistan effort. It would have been nice if Pakistan had taken a wicket or two. It goes to show a frame of mind, an attitude.Waqar Younis, perhaps, believes that he himself is two bowlers because he goes in with a bowler short in both versions of the game. In the Durban test match, Pakistan played 4 bowlers and to compound the mistake, won the toss and sent South Africa in, as if it had McGrath, Gillespie, Lee and Warne in the team.The first calculation, a captain must do, is whether he has the bowling resources to take 20 wickets to win a test match. There’s no point in packing the batting if you can’t get the other side out.Besides, if your top five batsmen don’t fire, what can we expect an additional batsman to do? Shahid Afridi does not seem to fit into the team management’s planning, for whatever reasons, what is Mohammad Zahid in the team for?In the three-day game preceding the test match, by some quirk of fortune, or absent-mindedness, Mohammad Zahid played and he took 5 wickets. Perhaps, this was not considered good enough. Sent in, South Africa made 366 in ideal bowling conditions.True there was no Wasim Akram or Shoaib Akhtar, one back home and the other still in Durban, ostensibly undergoing treatment though hardly incapacitated: All the more reason to have batted first and put some runs on the board.Batting was always going to be difficult and Shaun Pollock let loose his battery of quick bowlers and they blasted Pakistan out. The openers, about whom so much concern has been shown, gave Pakistan a solid start but once Taufiq Omar was out, the door was opened.Inzamam got out to a brute of a delivery and, suddenly, the South African bowlers seemed to grow horns. Hanif Mohammad was in the dressing-room, watching the proceedings as the batting coach. His mind must have flashed back to his monumental innings of 337 against the West Indies and Gilchrist was part of the attack and Gilchrist was ferociously fast and he ‘chucked’ his bouncer and the batsmen wore no helmets.Hanif the batting coach can pass on some tips but he can’t pass on the application and steely resolve he brought to his batting. He put a very high price on his wicket.It is not that the Pakistan batsmen are not talented. It is simply that they don’t bat as a team. Pakistan batted better in the second innings. Another hundred runs and Saqlain could have won the match for Pakistan.The batsmen should see the videos of how they got out and they will be able to see how poor the shot selection was. Youhana twinkled like a diamond. But he played an ambitious shot seeing that a fielder had been posted at fly-slip and he took the bait.One hopes that Pakistan will do better at Capetown. It will be the last international match before the World Cup and Pakistan needs to take back some pride from South Africa before it returns to do battle.Teams that refuse to play in Zimbabwe will forfeit match points. This is not enough. Zimbabwe as a venue is a part of the package of the World Cup.The pressure is coming from England even the government has weighed in with Claire Short, a cabinet minister saying it would be “shocking and deplorable” if the England team went to Zimbabwe. The irony is that Zimbabwe’s team is mainly made up of whites.Yet, they seem to be willing to play but the high-minded English find it morally repugnant to play in Mugabe’s Zimbabwe. By introducing politics into sport, the World Cup is being put to risk. People like David Graveney are entitled to their opinions but are singularly unqualified to make political judgements.I would guess that they have no idea about the imperatives of Zimbabwe’s politics nor any idea of the white man’s rule in that country and how the best lands in that country were ‘stolen’ from the Zimbabwe blacks. It is a shameful history. The ICC must take a tough stand.Pakistan’s team for the World Cup will have been announced when this column appears in the print. I expect to see no surprises and if they are, I will comment on them next week.But one hopes that no one will be picked if he has a question mark hanging over him about his fitness. It’s time that PCB’s medical panel showed some teeth. Players who carry injuries don’t get better by playing.This would seem fairly elementary to even a layman. And unfit players are bad for the morale of the team and morale is a key component of a team. This too is elementary.

Somerset Chief Executive Peter Anderson was back at his desk at the County Ground this morning after returning from a few days away, and reflected on the recent events out in New Zealand.He told me, “Somerset as a club is an England supporter, and like everyone else was disappointed that they lost the one day series to New Zealand.”Mr Anderson continued, “However it was a great effort to come back from two nil down which was also the case against India, so there is clear evidence that the England side is improving in the One Day discipline.”The Somerset chief went on, “I, together with my coaches, were very disappointed to read Duncan Fletcher’s reported remarks intimating that some of the England players could not dive about on the field in an effective manner, and that it was the fault of the counties.”He continued,”It is easy to say these things and by doing so Duncan Fletcher raises the criticism from the counties that whatever the players shortcomings are it is never his fault.”Mr Anderson concluded, “The question he needs to answer is that where there are shortcomings in his players does he ever liaise with county coaches and if so how often. If he has done so and the fault still exists then the counties would accept the blame, but so must he as the England manager and his coaches”

The first ever twighlight ING Cup match will be held at Bellerive Oval on Sunday 19th January 2003, a new initiative introduced by the Tasmanian Cricket Association.The match between the Cascade Tasmanian Tigers and the Victorian Bushrangers will commence at 12.00 noon instead of the normal hour of 10.00am and concluding at 7.45pm.The Tigers sit in third place on the ING Cup points table with 11 points after 5 matches and a victory in this fixture will see them rise on the table following their tie with the New South Wales Blues in Devonport last week.Earlier in the season the Tigers defeated the Bushrangers by 74 runs in a high scoring match at the MCG in Melbourne.An added bonus for patrons and spectators will be the expected inclusion of Shane Warne in the Bushrangers for Sundays match. Warne is coming back following a dislocation of his right shoulder while playing for Australia. This ING Cup match against the Tigers forms part of his comeback program as he builds up match fitness and form leading into the World Cup.A barbecue will be available to patrons on the hill and face painters for the children between 12.00 noon and 2.00pm.With fine weather and a balmy evening predicted this is the perfect opportunity for patrons to enjoy the facilities at Bellerive Oval while watching what is to be a very important match for both teams. A Cascade Tasmanian Tigers victory will see them with a finals berth within their grasp and a chance to push for their first Domestic One-Day title since the Gillette Cup in 1978.